Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz believes his side should have put the Soweto Derby beyond Orlando Pirates' reach in the first half after suffering a 2-1 defeat at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers claimed all three points through goals from Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi, securing bragging rights and moving to the top of the Betway Premiership standings.

However, Da Cruz felt the outcome could have been different if Amakhosi had taken their first-half opportunities.

Speaking after the match, the Chiefs coach insisted that his team needed to score two or three goals before the break to kill the contest.

"In the first half we must kill this game. Normally, 2 or 3-0 because the goal of Pirates, we've seen it's offside and maybe there is a red card as well," Da Cruz said.

"If we score two or three goals, we're gonna kill this game."

The French tactician also pointed to a lack of experience among his younger players as one of the reasons Chiefs struggled during the closing stages of the encounter.

According to Da Cruz, Amakhosi failed to manage the final 20 minutes effectively, allowing Pirates to create opportunities and put them under pressure.

"In the second half, the last 20 minutes, with our young players we have a lack of experience. They don't create chances because we have a lack of experience, we give them chances to score more goals," he added.

The defeat will be disappointing for Chiefs, particularly given the importance of the Soweto Derby and the opportunity to secure a major result against their biggest rivals.

For Pirates, the victory provides another significant boost to their league campaign, while Chiefs must now focus on recovering from the setback.

Da Cruz's comments suggest that he believes missed opportunities and the team's inability to manage crucial moments ultimately proved costly against the Buccaneers.

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